Rotary draw works



1943 J. D. SPALDING ROTARY DRAWWORKS Filed Jan. 18, 1938 4 Shets-Sheet 1 19430 J. D. SPALDING 2,327,467

ROTARY DRAWWORKS Filed Jan. 1a, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

lll ig Aug, 24, 1943. J. D. SPALDING 2,327,467

ROTARY DRAWWORKS Filed Jan. l8, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet s Aug. 24, 1943.

Filed Jan. 18, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 24, 1943 ROTARY DRAW WORKS John D. Spalding, Los Angeles; Calif., assignor to The National Supply Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application 'January 18, 1938, Serial No. 185,544

8 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary drawworks as used in connection with apparatus for drilling wellsin the recovery of oil, water, ga or is used in drilling other holes.

In a rotary drilling rig there are customarily employed three principal items of equipment, the positioning and use of which are interrelated in order to obtain eificient operation. These items of equipment are: a rotary drawworks, a rotary machine, and a crown block. The crown block is positioned at the top of the derrick. The rotary machine and rotary drawworks are positioned upon the floor of the derrick.

Aline is reeved upon the drum of the drawworks and passes over sheaves of the crown block and around a traveling block to suspend the drill string as the same is passed through the opening of the rotary machine. The driving element, i. e., the driving sprocket of the rotary machine is carried upon the pinion shaft of the rotary machine in such a position as to permit little, if any, variation of its position.

In drawworks as heretofore constructed, the

corresponding driving sprocket for the rotary machine has been fixed in its position necessitating .the positioning of the drawworks with relation to the rotary machine so that these two drive and driven sprockets were in position of alignment.

This determining factor of the positioning of the drawworks with relation to the hole to'be drilled through the rotary machine has in many instances resulted in the positioning of the drum of the drawworks incorrectly with relation to the crown block or the particular sheave of the crown block over which the line is passed to the drum of the drawworks with the result of incorrect spooling of theline upon the drawworks drum.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rotary machine drive between the drawworks and the rotary machine wherein means are provided to enable the rotary driving sprocket of the drawworks to be positioned with relation to therotary drive sprocket of the rotary machine independently of the positioning of the'drawworks whereby the drawworks drum may be. positioned correctly with relation to the crown block sheave over which the line i passed to the drawworks drum whereby correctspooling of the line upon the drawworks drum is assured.

Another object of this invention is to provide Another object of thi invention is to provide a rotary drawworks wherein certain of the operating parts are fully enclosed in a leak-proof encasement whereby lubricant may be cascaded, sprayed, or thrown upon the operating parts and transmissions of such a drawworks.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means whereby the rotary drive transmission may be positioned outside of the drawworks transmission whereby mud or foreign matter as carried by the rotary transmission may be excluded from, or prevented from entering the drawworks transmission enclosures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary machine drive transmission from the drawworks to the rotary machine which is positioned relatively close to the floor upon which the drawworks is situated whereby such transmission is less of an obstacle upon the floor when it becomes necessary for the crew working upon the floor to traverse the transmission. 4

Another object of this invention i to provide a. rotary drawworks including arotary drive transmission which may be operatively connected to drive the rotary machine or the drawworks, or both, and may .be disconnected from both, whereby either the rotary table alone or the drawworks alone, or both, may be'operated or remain idle, as desired. I I

Another object of thisinvention is to provide a rotary drawworks'includingarotary transmisa rotary drawworks wherein certain operating.

parts and transmission elements are fully enclosed to prevent foreign matter from entering into or tending to foul or wear such operatin parts.

sion drive which includes a-rotary machine driving element positioned and adaptable in connection with a rotary ma'chine'for the drilling of a hole commonly known as a "rat hole as used to hold and support the kelly and swivel when not in use. 7

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. r

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view partly broken away illustrating the rotary drawworks of a rotary machine arrangement upon a der-rick floor and illustrating the position of said elements as the same are utilized.

Figure 2 is a iragmental enlarged plan view partly in horizontal section illustrating the rotary drive and drum shaft drive means and enclosures at the rotary drive end of the drum shaft.

Figure 3 is a iragmental front elevation partly in vertical section illustrating the rotary drlve and drum shaft drive means at the right end'of the drum shaft.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the rotary drawworks.

Figure 5 is a fragmental view of a modified form of rotary drawworks embodying my invention.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I

- indicates a drawworks which is driven from a prime mover 2. The rotary machine is indicated at 3. The drawworks includes a base 4 which is preferably formed of a frame work of suitably connected beams. The upper surface of the frame work is covered by a grating or plate indicated at 5. Supported upon the surface of the frame work are uprights 6 and I. The uprights 6 and I are connected at their upper ends by means of a connecting beam 8.

Rotatably supported in bearings mounted upon the uprights 6 and l is a drum shaft 9, a line shaft I0, and a cut shaft II. The drawworks is provided with a typical three-speed transmission for driving the drum shaft 9 where the transmissions I2, I3 and I4 are respectively low, second and high-speed drives. The cat shaft II is driven from the line shaft I by means of a chain and sprocket transmission l5 which is releasably connected by means of a clutch I6 at the cat shaft end of such transmission.

In the particular embodiment of my invention as illustrated, the sprockets for driving the respective transmissions are all fixed upon the line shaft and at the drum shaft end said transmissions are provided with clutches I1, I8 and I9, by means of which the transmission drives are selectively and releasably connected for the purpose of driving the hoisting drum 20.

Positioned intermediate the drawworks I and generally supported by the same frame structure as is utilized for supporting the structure of the drawworks I, is a countershaft 2| which is located in a position near the floor of the derrick upon which the mechanisms are positioned and which provides a countershaft drive for driving the drive sprocket 22 positioned upon the pinion shaft 23 of the rotary machine 3.

While in the general arrangement of drawworks as illustrated it will be obvious that only a single speed drive is provided for the drive of the rotary machine 3, it will be obvious that in other modified forms of drawworks to which my invention is equally applicable, 2, multiple speed drive for the rotary machine may be provided if desired.

The countershaft 2| is supported upon the extended supports 24 and 25 of the drawworks frame. The transmission drive I4 from the line shaft II] to the drum shaft 9 includes a. double sprocket 26. The sprocket 26 is journaled upon the drum shaft 9 and, as heretofore set forth, ls releasably connected with the drum shaft 9 by means of the clutch I9. The second sprocket 21 of such double sprocket 26 is aligned with a driving sprocket 28 mounted upon the countershaft 2|, and a chain is trained between the sprockets 21 and 28. The sprocket 28 is journaled upon the countershaft 2| and is adapted to be releasably coupled thereto by means of a jaw clutch 29.

Mounted upon the countershaft 2| is a rotary machine driving element or sprocket 3|]. The sprocket 30 is mounted upon the shaft 2| and held from relative rotation by means of a key 3|, which is adapted .to be positioned within the elongated keyway 32 whereby the position of the sprocket 30 may be adjusted longitudinally of the (not shown) in such a manner as to assure the v most eflicient spooling of the line upon the drum 20,-and then the drive to the rotary machine I may be regulated by proper adjustment of the sprocket 30 along the countershaft 2|.

In the use of a rotary drilling rig, it is customary to provide what is known as-a rat hole," which is a hole drilled for the purpose of supporting a kelly and swivel as used in such a drilling rig when they are not in use. This hole is generally drilled to one side of the derrick, and in order to permit of this drilling, I have provided upon the end of the countershaft 2| a second rotary drive sprocket 33. This sprocket 33 is so positioned as to be in position of alignment with the rotary drive sprocket 22 when the rotary machine has been skidded or moved to a position upon the derrick floor where such rat hole" may be drilled, such position of the rotary machine being generally indicated in dotted lines at 34.

As the countershaft 2| in ordinary conditions of operation need only be of such length as to extend between the supports 24 and 25, I have providedfor the sprocket 33 an extension 35 for the shaft 2|, which extension is coupled to the shaft 2 I, by means of a suitable coupling 36. The extension 35 of the shaft is then supported upon the support 24, and a further support 31, which is extended from the drawworks frame structure.

In order to protect the operating parts of the rotary drawworks from the rotary mud used in the drilling process, or from other foreign matter. I prefer to provide enclosures for the principal operating transmissions which are provided between the respective shafts of the drawworks. These enclosures are her indicated as separate enclosures 38, 39 and 40, for the low, intermediate and. high speed transmissions, respectively. A similar enclosure 4| is provided for the cat shaft transmission and a further enclosure 42 is provided for the transmission between the drum shaft 9 and the countershaft 2|. By the use of these enclosures I am enabled to insure adequate lubrication by any suitabl or desirable means such, for example, as by dripping, splash, or other lubrication systems as are well understood in the art. As is customary in the provision of such enclosure means, each of the enclosures provided for the respective transmissions are formed in sections so that they may b readily removed for repair or inspection of the operating parts as may be required.

In the operation of the drawworks embodying my invention, it will be apparent that the high speed transmission provided from the line shaft III to the drum shaft 9 likewise provides in part the transmission for driving the rotary sprocket 22 of the rotary machine 3. As the double sprocket 26 is journalednpon the shaft 9, it will be obvious that the drive through the transmission as thus provided may be from the prime mover 2 through the line shaft I0, double sprocket 26, transmission provided to the countershaft 2| and to the rotary machine sprocket 22, while the drum and drum shaft are permitted to remain idle. When the clutch I9 is closed, it will likewise be obvious that both the rotary machine 3 and the drum shaft 9 may be rotated if desired. It will also be obvious that by releasing the clutch 29 and engaging the clutch I! that the drum of the drawworks may be driven at high speed vivhile the rotary machine is allowed to remain dle.

Figure 5 shows a modification of the invention in which the drive to the drum 43 and the countershaft 5| is positioned between the drum 43 and the post 44. A double sprocket member 45 is rotatably mounted on the drumshaft 45, and is releasably connected to the rotatably mounted drum 43.

A clutch 41 is mounted on a sleeve extension 52 of the double member 45 and is slidably fixed on the extension by splines 53 or other suitable securing means. Provided on one end of the drum hub 54 is a clutch jaw member 52. The clutch member 41 is actuated into engagement with the clutch jaw 52 by means of the shiftin mechanism 55.

Sprocket 4B of the member 45 may be provided to be driven from a suitable power source (not shown), while the second sprocket 49 maybe. aligned with a driven sprocket 50 mounted on the countershaft 5|, the mounting of the countershaft being similar to that shown in Figures 2 and 3. A-clutch 55, engageable with the jaws 51 provided on the sprocket 50, provides a releasable drive to the countershaft 5|. Suitable shifting mechanism 58 is provided for ,the clutch 56.

Secured to the countershaft 5| is a sprocket 59 which provides the drive to the rotary ma chine drive sprocket, the latter notbeing shown.

The sprocket 59 is axially adjustable on the shaft 5| and secured in position by a, key 50.

Having fully, described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim: v

1. In a drilling rig, including a rotary machine having a drive shaft and a driving e ement on said shaft, and a rotary drawworks having a line shaft and a drum shaft, a transmission drive connection between said shafts, a transmission connection between the line shaft and a driving element journaled on said drum shaft, the combination of a countershaft interposed between the drawworks and the rotary machine, a driving connection between the last said driving element and the countershaft, a rotary machine drive element mounted on the countershaft so as to be adjustable longitudinally of said shaft, a drive connection between said rotary machine, drive element, and. the first said driving element, and a second rotary machine driving element mounted on the countershaft in position translated along said countershaft to align with the rotary machine driving element when said rotary machine is moved to a position to drill a rat hole in a position at the edge of the derrick.

2. In a rotary drilling rig, including a rotary machine having a drive shaft and a driving element on said shaft, and a drawworks having a drum mounted on a drumshaft, the combination of a driving member comprising a pair of sprockets rotatably mounted on the drumshaft and adapted to be driven by aprime mover, a

countershaft, a driven member rotatably mounted on said countershaft and adapted to be driven by said driving member, clutch means for placing the prime mover in driving connection with either the drum shaft or the countershaft,

a rotary drive element on said countershaft adapted to align with the rotary machine driving element when the rotary machine is in normal drilling position, a lateral extension on said countershaft, and an auxiliary rotary drive element on said lateral extension adapted to align 5 'with the rotary machine driving element when said rotary machine is moved to a position to drill a "rat hole."

3. A drawworks for driving a rotary table when the table is successively located in different positions with relation thereto including: a driving shaft; a driven shaft; means effecting a driving connection between the two shafts; a plurality of power take-off sprockets mounted in spaced relation on said driven shaft; and a chain for effecting a driving connection between any one of said power take-off sprockets and the rotary table.

4. A drawworks, for use in connection with a rotary table, for successively drilling both a rat hole and a well while the drawworks is located in the same position including: a driving shaft; a parallel driven shaft; a sprocket on each of the shafts; means effecting a driving connection between the sprockets; and a pairof powertake-off sprockets mounted in spaced relation-on said driven shaft, the space between said powe take-off sprockets being substantially co .to the desired spacing between the rat hole and the well, whereby one of said power take-off sprockets may be-used for driving the rotary table when the table is located in a position to drill a rat hole, and the other power take-off sprocket may be used to drive the rotary table when the table is located in a position to drill an adjacent well.

5. A drawworks for driving a rotary table when the table is successively located in different positions with relation thereto including a driving shaft, a driven shaft, means effecting a driving connection between the two shafts, a plurality of power take-off sprockets mounted in spaced relation on said driven shaft, and a chain for effecting the driving connection between any one of said power take-off sprockets and the rotary table, and means for selectively controlling the rotation of said driven shaft.

6. A drawworks for driving a rotary table when-the table is successively located in different positions with relation thereto including a driving shaft, a driven shaft, driving connections between the two shafts'including a sprocket on each shaft and transmission connections connecting the sprockets, spaced power take-ofi sprockets concentrically mounted to rotate with the driven shaft, each. for driving the rotary table when the table islocated in a different position with relation to the drawworks, and a chain effecting a driving connection between any one of said power take-off sprockets and said rotary table.

7. A drawworks for driving a rotary table when the table is successively located in different positions with relation thereto for successively drilling a rat hole and a. well including a driven shaft, a clutch faced sprocket mounted on the driven shaft for releasably engaging the sprocket and shaft to effect a driving connection between the two, a countershaft rotatably mounted parallel to said driven shaft, asprocket mounted on the countershaft in alignment with said clutch faced sprocket, a drive chain operably connecting the two sprockets, and two power take-off sprockets mounted in spaced relation on said countershaft, one for drivingthe rot'ary table when-the table is located in a position to drill a well, and the other for driving the rotary table when the table is located in a position -to drill a rat hole.

8. In a rotary drawworks, the combination of a drumshaft assembly including a spooling drum mounted on a drumshaft, an integral double sprocket member rotatably mounted on the drumshaft, releasable clutch means selectively operable to connect said member and said drumshaft assembly in direct driving relation, a. countershaft rotatably mounted parallel to said drumshaft, a rotary drive sprocket secured on the countershaft and adapted to drive a rotary machine, a. driven sprocket rotatably mounted on the countershaft, releasable clutch means adapted to connect said driven sprocket chain for driving the other sprocket on said 10 double sprocket member.

JOHN D. SPALDING. 

